Women in EU Institutions: (Still) Walking the Talk?

This lecture will examine the state of research on gendered political careers in the European Union. While EU institutions are often viewed as especially favorable to women’s representation, this assumption raises key theoretical and analytical questions. Has scholarship provided robust evidence that the EU is more gender egalitarian across all stages of the representational process—from candidate selection to leadership roles? And has it adequately theorized the institutional and contextual factors behind women’s apparent success at the EU level compared to national politics? The lecture will consider current challenges, including anti-gender backlash, and the evolving strategies of radical right parties in nominating women.